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This is the Grocery Store of the Future

by Matt Duckor

on 05/28/14 at 05:12 PM

Imagine a grocery store free of packaging, where goods are displayed in a clean, Apple-esque fashion. There are no plastic bags, sealed Styrofoam cartons, or twisty ties to write PLU numbers on. Yes, this is the grocery store of the future. And it's opening in Germany.

If all goes according to plan, Original Unverpackt (website in German) will complete its crowdfunding in July and open in the not-too-distant future.

This is big news for bulk bin freaks--they exist, look closely the next time you're strolling down the aisles of your favorite grocery store--who will be familiar with the concept behind the store. It's simple and makes a lot of sense: You buy the exact quantity of what you need and nothing more.

If you've ever bought a dozen serrano peppers when you've just needed one for a dish, you can understand the value that this model could potentially provide. At Original Unverpackt, you'll be able to buy 600 different items, from shampoo to tomatoes, as long as you bring your own container to take it away.

The biggest question mark about bringing this to the United States? How the whole system will comply with our strict public health codes. At the same time, farmers markets exist across the country without any packaging and operate without issue.

We know where we'll be stocking up on travel snacks the next time we're in Dusseldorf.